Coupling for lightning-rods



(No Model.)

v T. H. PATEE. CGUPLING FOR LIGHTNING RODS.

Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrct.

THEODORUS H. PATEE, OF GREEN CASTLE, INDIANA.

COUPLING FOR LIGHTNING-RODS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,290, dated April 22, 1884.

(No model.)

ures of reference marked thereon, which form 1 a part of this specification.

My invention relates to lightning-rods; and the object of my improvement is to produce a new method of attaching the couplingsections to the cast-metal ends of the spirally or other-. wise formed intermediate sections ofsuch rods. This is an improvement on the invention for which Letters Patent No.257, 890 were formerly issued to me. I attain this object sought by the method illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is an elevation showing parts of two sections of a lightning-rod of the usual spiral form with a part of the coupling-section attached to each, the parts being separated for the purpose of showing how the two parts of the coupling-section are united. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of one of the parts of the coupling-section asit appears whenfinished and ready for usein connection with the screwthreaded intermediate section. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of one part of the couplingsection as it appears when ready to be applied to an intermediate section, the end of which is cylindrical in form, but largest at its, inner end. Fig. 4 is an end view of the parts shown in Figs. 2 and Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of one, showing the intermediate or spiral sections of the. rod

having the tenon or projection a upon its end enlarged at its outer end, and as it appears when the coupling-section has been swaged .or pressed down upon it. It also shows a cross-section of the coupling part; and Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of a portion of one part of a coupling-section, and showing in elevation a portion of a spirally-formed intermediate section having a tenon or projection with ribs on it, its, outer end being the largest, and the coupling part swageddown upon it, a cross-section being also shown. Fig. 7 shows in vertical section the coupling orjoint ot'rod before being compressed. v

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

It has been customary heretofore to secure the portions of the coupling-sections of lightning-rods to the intermediate or spiral sections in various ways, usually by screwing them onto said intermediate sections or by riveting them thereto; but these methods have been found more or less objectionable, on account of the amount of labor required in the process.

In securing coupling-sections to the intermediate parts by my improved method, I prepare the ends of the spirally or otherwise formed sections of the rods by forming thereon a straight cylindrical portion and cutting a thread thereon, as shown at A A in Fig. 7.

For the reception of the screw-threaded tenon or projection there are formed in the parts B B of the coupling-sections holes the diameters of which are sufficiently large to admit of the threaded tenon being passed into it without having any screw-thread in the coupling parts. The tenons are passed into these holes, when, for the purpose of holding the parts firmly together and preventing them from turning one upon the other, the coupling parts (which are to be made of cast metal sufficiently malleable to admit of its being done) are to be swaged, hammered, or pressed down upon the screw-tenon, the effect of which is to cause a portion of the metal composing the coupling -,sections to be embedded in the thread of the tenon, which will secure the parts of the coupling-section firmly thereto. I

The swaging, hammering, or pressing is best done when the parts of the coupling-sections are in the condition shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, after which they can be turned or milled and have a screw-thread formed on them, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of uniting them to the parts B, which have had a female screw-thread formed in them, after having been treated in the same manner,-so far as the method of fastening them upon the intermediate sections is concerned, as those already described.

It is evident that screw-threads may be formed on the inside ofthe dovetail couplings.

Instead of using the straight cylindrical tenon on the intermediate sections of the rod, as above described, the parts may be united by forming upon said intermediate parts a tenon of the form shown in Fig. 5, it being largest at its outer end, as there shown, and

forming in the parts B B apertures large enough to permit the tenons to be passed into them,and then swaging, hammering, or press ing the parts of the couplingsections down thereon, as above described, when the parts will assume the form shown in the figure last alluded to, and their separation be effectually prevented.

Another modification of my method is shown in Fig. 6, which is intended to provide for securing the parts together withouticrining a cylindrical tenon or projection upon the ends of the intermediate sections, and thus providing for attaching the coupling-sections to the intermediate ones when ofa spiral or any other flanged form. This modification contemplates the preparation of the couplingsections by forming in them apertures for the reception of the ends of the intermediate sections, as above described, and then turning or cutting oif a portion of the outer surface of the flanges or of the rod, as shown, and thus forming a tenon largest at its outer end, upon which the metal of the coupling parts may be swaged, hammered, or pressed, as above described.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

, 1. The lightning-rod joint consisting of the dovetailed tenons on the ends of the rod-sections, in combination with the coupling'pieces 13 B, provided with screw-threads, and with projecting portions for clasping the ends of the rod, as shown and described.

2. The lightning rod joint consisting of threaded tenons as shown, in combination with the internally-threaded coupling -pieces of larger diameter than said tenons, whereby the coupling-pieces are adapted totit loosely on said tenons and tobe secured, as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

trnnononos H. PATEE.

Vitnesscs:

G. \V. BALLOOH, O. M. CONNELL. 

